ON OUR FARMS
significant contribution to the fight against climate change. In addition, we have the knowledge and technology to do so at a lower cost than the use of other fertilizers, being able to provide cost savings and extra income to farmers, without risk of contaminating aquifers. We should ensure that intensive livestock farming is not labelled as being worse than extensive and/or organic livestock farming, because that is not the case.
our animals’ diet is based on by-products of the food industry and parts of plants that are not digestible by humans. In any case, we have made significant progress in reducing overall emissions and water use per kilogram of meat produced. We have the means to continue doing so and we will continue to work on the development of new techniques to go even further. We should also ensure that slurry is not labelled as a polluting substance, because that is not the case. Using slurry as a fertilizer reduces dependence on chemically synthesized fertilizers of extractive origin (whose generation and transport require huge amounts of energy) and its use improves the soil structure (increasing its capacity for carbon fixation). This has a
Modernisation, automation and the introduction of technology have led to a significant improvement in the working and living conditions of farmers and their animals, and thus an increase in health, animal welfare and productivity per unit of resource used, so that intensive production can be as or even more sustainable as extensive production. It implies the need for a minimum number of animals to guarantee the necessary income to be able to have enough labour to provide decent working conditions and generate sufficient income to be able to address the necessary investments in technology and facilities. Even so, the vast majority of Spanish farms are still owned by private farmers, part of cooperatives or family businesses deeply rooted in their territories. The term macro-farm is used derogatorily, but under no circumstance does the size of a farm imply lower animal welfare or greater environmental impact. Regarding animal welfare, it is not influenced by the total number of animals, but by the conditions in their environment, and the production efficiency and emissions and slurry management, which are more efficient if the appropriate technical means are available, meaning that a minimum volume to manage to make the necessary investments 15
